How To Crate Train A Puppy

In the wild, a dog’s den is her home, a place to raise puppies, and a refuge from danger. Once your dog has recognized the crate as her personal space, it becomes her den, place to snooze, place to hide from thunder.

The primary reason for crate training puppies is house training. Dogs don't like to soil their dens and using a crate helps them learn to wait until they are outdoors to pee or poop. The crate also limits their access to the rest of the house while they learn other rules.

Crates are also a safe way to transport your dog in the car. Although hav﻿﻿i﻿﻿ng a de﻿﻿n is natural for dogs, they won’t automatically like being in a crate and can learn to fear it if you don’t handle crate training properly.

How To Crate Train Your Puppy

Remember to not go too fast. Use a series of small steps. And always associate your puppy's crate with nice things.

1. Introduce

Bring it home and put it where he will find it

Make it cozy with towels or his best pillow

Put some treats or toys in there and leave the door open to encourage her to explore, play, or nap in there

2. Get Involved

Call him to the crate and give him a treat

Give him a command to enter, point to the inside with a treat in your hand as encouragement

After he enters, give praise and the treat

​Close the door for a very short time while he’s in the crate with toys and treats

Stay close and praise him when you let him out

Extend the stay by a few minutes each time

3. Use Mealtime To Create A Positive Association

Start with the food just outside and slowly move it in and back with each meal until you can close the door

Once your dog is standing comfortably in the crate to eat, close the door while she eats

The first time, open the door as soon as she’s done

Wait longer each time to open the door until she’s able to stay in there for ten minutes after eating

4. Slowly Lengthen The Stays

Slowly lengthen the time your dog spends in the crate with the door closed

Then let him get used to you leaving the room while he is in there

Increase the time until he is able to stay there for 30 minutes without you nearby

5. Leaving The House

Do the same thing but leave the house for short and then longer periods

Praise her when she gets into the crate but keep it brief

​When you come back in, keep your return low-key, not a big deal, ignore his excitement – it needs to seem normal

Continue to crate your dog for short periods when you are home and nearby so she doesn’t associate the crate exclusively with being alone

6. Overnight

Keep the crate near you for overnight

Puppies can only go 2-4 hours without a bathroom break

An adult dog in a crate overnight should initially be kept close to you as well so he he doesn’t associate his crate with social isolation

Types Of Crates

There are several types of dog crates available. Here are the most common ones!

Wire

Plastic

Good for dogs that get hot easily

You can buy a divider to section off the crate, so your dog’s area grows with him

​Many fold flat for carrying or storage

Removable floor tray for cleaning

​Tend to be noisier than plastic crates

​Escape-artist dogs find that it’s easier to break out of wire crates

Large sizes can be heavy and difficult to move

Good for dogs who like cozy spaces

Can be used for airline travel

​More difficult for escape artists to get out of

There isn’t as much air circulation

Dogs may get frustrated that they can’t see out the sides

Hard to clean

Soft-Sided

Heavy Duty

Very lightweight and portable

Good for small, non-destructive dogs

​Good for car travel, camping, picnics, etc.

Easy to store

​Difficult to clean

Some dogs can eat their way out

Smart dogs can work the zipper

Can contain most destructive or escape-artist dogs

Some are approved for airline travel

Expensive

Crate Size

A puppy needs to be able to stretch out comfortable and not much more. An adult dog should have enough room to stand up to eat and to stretch out somewhat when they lie down.

If you get your puppy a crate intended for his full-grown size, use dividers so he won’t think one end of it is supposed to be the bathroom.

Tips For Success

Here are a few tips for successful crate training:

Location – put it in a place where the dog will be around the family but that is quiet at night so the dog can rest

Pleasant – make sure he has toys and treats so he has something to do and is not bored

​Cozy – line it with a favorite blanket or pillow, or a nice liner – if it is a mesh crate cover the top with a blanket so the dog feels safe

Food and water – not needed overnight and that is the longest they will be in the crate

Access – always leave the door open when not actively training so she will start using it voluntarily as a personal space

Breaks – never leave the puppy in there long enough that he has to use it for a bathroom – no longer than 4 hours

Patience – some puppies and dogs take a few days to crate train, some longer

Crate Cautions

Using a crate incorrectly can make your dog feel frustrated and trapped.

Never use the crate as punishment.

Never leave your dog in the crate too long. They need human interaction and exercise to avoid depression.

Puppies or dogs that are being house trained should not stay in a crate for more than 3 or 4 hours. Puppies can’t hold it longer and untrained adults don’t know they are supposed to.

Crate your dog until you can trust him alone in the house. After that, it should be his sanctuary, his private place.

No attachments (collars, leashes, harnesses) should be worn while in the crate.

Potential Problems

Whining - If your dog whines it’s hard to know if he needs a bathroom break or if he just wants out. Ignore him for a few minutes and then use the phrase he knows for the bathroom. If he reacts to that, take him outside. If you don’t think he needs to go outside, ignore him. You do not want to train him to whine to get what he wants.

Separation anxiety - Attempting to use the crate as a remedy for separation anxiety won't solve the problem.

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